Appeal on mystery of paintings

Police are trying to solve a puzzle and trace the owners of three pieces of artwork, including a print entitled the Decline of the Carthaginian Empire by Turner.

The paintings, which have a musty smell and may have been kept in a church or attic, came into the possession of the police after two men were arrested on suspicion of burglary in the early hours of Saturday, December 1.

The men had been spotted behaving suspiciously in the Radford Avenue area of Kidderminster and were carrying the three pictures. Officers are puzzled about where the pictures came from as no-one has reported them stolen and inquiries with churches and schools in the area have drawn a blank.

One of the works of art is in a glass-fronted frame and by Martley Moor and the other two prints include one called Merry Making In An Inn by Jan Steen and the other The Decline of the Carthaginian Empire by Turner.

The two men who were arrested have been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Police are now hoping someone will see the pictures and realise they are missing or know where they might have been displayed.

Detective Constable Paul Lofthouse, spokesman for West Mercia Police at Kidderminster, said today: "We would appeal for anyone who recognises the paintings to come forward.

"We do not know who the pictures belong to as no-one has yet come forward to report them stolen. We are making further enquiries with antique dealers to discover their worth.

"They are quite distinctive and we would appeal for the owners, or anyone recognising the pictures to call 08457 444888."